Roger Marquis

From BR Bullpen

Roger Julian Marquis (Noonie)

Bats Left, Throws Left
Height 6' 0", Weight 190 lb.

Debut September 25, 1955
Final Game September 25, 1955
Born April 5, 1937 in Holyoke, MA USA
Died July 19, 2004 in Holyoke, MA USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Eighteen year old Roger Marquis was not the headline story in sports on September 25, 1955, it was the resignation of Leo Durocher as manager of the defending World Series champion New York Giants. With the exception of possibly in his hometown of Holyoke, MA, there was little note of the first and only appearance in a big league game of an 18 year old left hand hitting outfielder named Marquis. He had signed with the Baltimore Orioles at the same time as Brooks Robinson, but "Noonie," a nickname acquired from his older brother as a youngster, grounded out to shortstop, and never returned to the majors.

Roger or "Noonie", take your pick, would be found with the Thomson Orioles of the Georgia State League in 1956 where he appeared in 116 games as an outfielder-first baseman and hit .227 with four home runs. The Orioles also tried Marquis on the mound in six outings and the young man had 2 wins and 2 losses. The Paris Orioles of the Sooner State League would be Marquis's team in 1957 and again the young man didn't make much of an impression, hitting just .214 in 13 games and he dissappeared off the radar. Roger went back home to Holyoke, started an oil business that he sold in the mid 1980s and was retired at the time of his death on July 19, 2004 in Holyoke, MA.